India’s 2025-26 defence budget sees 9.53% increase amid rising regional tensions
New Delhi: India has proposed defence spending of Rs 6.81 trillion ($78.70 billion) for the 2025-26 fiscal year, up 9.5 percent from the previous year, raising critical questions about India’s approach to regional stability.
According to Kashmir Media Service, this increase brings defence spending to 13.44% of the total Union Budget, the highest share among all ministries. The sharp rise reflects growing concerns over China’s expanding military capabilities and influence in the region, particularly along the Himalayan borders and in the Indo-Pacific.
Experts call this rise in allocation as a result of shifting dynamics in neighboring Bangladesh, where India’s strategic influence is weakening. Experts speculate that India could resort to covert operations, including supporting insurgent or terrorist groups across borders, to destabilize neighbouring countries and preserve its regional dominance. This strategy, if pursued, could exacerbate existing tensions, particularly with Pakistan, and escalate instability in an already volatile region.
Rather than investing in long-term diplomatic solutions, India’s increased military spending may signal an aggressive posture designed to counterbalance China and Pakistan. While the expansion of India’s military infrastructure, including modernized air, land, and sea forces, is lacking behind, the emphasis on covert tactics risks further destabilizing the region and undermining India’s global image as a proponent of peace and stability.
Defence experts state that this budget shift signals a more hardline, militarized approach to foreign policy, with little regard for the diplomatic or humanitarian implications of such an escalated defence posture. If India is truly committed to securing its strategic interests, it must carefully consider the broader consequences of its actions, ensuring that its military investments are paired with a commitment to regional peace, not just power.
